Filter system for the local attenuation of X-radiation, X-ray apparatus and method for locally changing the intensity of X-radiation

Abstract

A filter system is for the local attenuation of X-radiation. In an embodiment, the filter system includes a filter device, arranged in a beam path of an X-ray apparatus and including a channel arrangement, the channel arrangement including a multiplicity of channel sections extending in parallel on a plane; a supply device to provide a 2-phase fluid flow containing drops of an absorber liquid, to absorb X-radiation and a carrier liquid transparent to X-radiation; and a sorting section, including an input connected to the supply device, a first output connected to the channel arrangement, a second output, and a deflection device to direct individual drops of the absorber liquid to the first output or the second output.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A filter system for local attenuation of X-radiation, comprising:
 a filter device, arranged in a beam path of an X-ray apparatus and including a channel arrangement, the channel arrangement including a multiplicity of channel sections extending in parallel on a plane; 
 a supply device to provide a 2-phase fluid flow containing drops of an absorber liquid, to absorb X-radiation and a carrier liquid transparent to X-radiation; and 
 a sorting section, including an input connected to the supply device, a first output connected to the channel arrangement, a second output, and a deflection device to direct individual drops of the absorber liquid to the first output or the second output. 
 
     
     
       2. The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel sections of the channel arrangement are connected to each other via connecting sections so as to form a continuous channel. 
     
     
       3. The filter system of  claim 2 , wherein the channel sections of the channel arrangement are each formed by individual channels, each connected to the supply device. 
     
     
       4. The filter system of  claim 2 , wherein a first group of the channel sections of the channel arrangement is arranged on a first plane and one or more further groups of channel sections are provided, each of the one or more further groups of channel sections being arranged on planes parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
       5. The filter system of  claim 2 , wherein the channel arrangement includes at least two plates, a surface of each of the at least two plates abutting a surface of another of the at least two plates, and wherein grooves defining the channel sections are formed on surfaces of the at least two plates. 
     
     
       6. The filter system of  claim 2 , wherein the supply device includes a first reservoir containing the absorber liquid, a second reservoir containing the carrier liquid, and a drop generator to generate the 2-phase fluid flow, and wherein the drop generator is connected via a first input to the first reservoir and via a second input to the channel arrangement. 
     
     
       7. The filter system of  claim 6 , wherein the drop generator includes a first line section including the first input and a second line section including the second input, and wherein the first line section and the second line sections merge in a T-shaped junction. 
     
     
       8. An X-ray apparatus, comprising:
 an X-ray source to generate and emit X-radiation in a beam path; 
 an X-ray detector, arranged in the beam path; and 
 the filter system of  claim 2 , wherein the filter device of the filter system is arranged in the beam path, between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector. 
 
     
     
       9. The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel sections of the channel arrangement are each formed by individual channels, each connected to the supply device. 
     
     
       10. The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein a first group of the channel sections of the channel arrangement is arranged on a first plane and one or more further groups of channel sections are provided, each of the one or more further groups of channel sections being arranged on planes parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
       11. The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel arrangement includes at least two plates, a surface of each of the at least two plates abutting a surface of another of the at least two plates, and wherein grooves defining the channel sections are formed on surfaces of the at least two plates. 
     
     
       12. The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply device includes a first reservoir containing the absorber liquid, a second reservoir containing the carrier liquid, and a drop generator to generate the 2-phase fluid flow, and wherein the drop generator is connected via a first input to the first reservoir and via a second input to the channel arrangement. 
     
     
       13. The filter system of  claim 12 , wherein the drop generator includes a first line section including the first input and a second line section including the second input, and wherein the first line section and the second line sections merge in a T-shaped junction. 
     
     
       14. The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply device includes a reservoir containing an emulsion of drops of the absorber liquid and the carrier liquid, and wherein the reservoir is connected to the channel arrangement. 
     
     
       15. The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the absorber liquid is mercury or Galinstan, and wherein the carrier liquid is oil. 
     
     
       16. The filter system of  claim 15 , wherein the oil is silicone oil. 
     
     
       17. An X-ray apparatus, comprising:
 an X-ray source to generate and emit X-radiation in a beam path; 
 an X-ray detector, arranged in the beam path; and 
 the filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter device of the filter system is arranged in the beam path, between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector. 
 
     
     
       18. A method for locally changing intensity of X-radiation, the method comprising:
 generating sequences of drops from a 2-phase fluid flow containing drops of an absorber liquid, to absorb X-radiation and a carrier liquid, transparent to X-radiation; and 
 supplying the sequences of drops generated into channel sections of a channel arrangement of a filter device, arranged in a beam path between an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, wherein the channel arrangement includes a multiplicity of channel sections extending in parallel on a plane.